Sack sewing apparatus



Feb. 1938. v, STATHEM 2,107,963

SACK SEWING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet l Fab. 8, 1938. v. L. STATHEM SACK SEWING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1936 Feb. s, 1938. v, L, ATHEM 2,107,963

SACK SEWING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1936 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sum/mm;

Feb. 8, 1938.

V. L. STATH EM SACK SEWING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 11%h. 8, 1938. v. L. STATHEM SACK SEWING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SACK SEWING APPARATUS Vereau L. Stathem, Riverclale, Calif.

Application May 9, 1936, Serial No. 78,950

18 Claims. (Cl. 112-11) This invention relates to a sack sewing appa- Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the structure ratus intended to sew the mouth of a filled sack. illustrated in Figure 1;

An object of the invention is to provide an ap- Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view paratus of this kind comprising a sewing head illustrating the means s herein p y for together with a plurality of sack holders each holding the tu n e a st movement;

mounted upon a carriage with all of the carriages Figure 4 s a l al medial Vertical secpositioned upon a turntable whereby while one l al View taken through the structure.

sack is filling, a filled sack is properly presented Figure 5 s an en d a sverse sectional to a sewing head for closing said filled sack. View ta n Substantially n e line -5 of Another object of the invention is to provide ure 1;

an apparatus of this kind comprising a filling sta- F r 6 is a l r d m n y v l tion and a sewing station together with an intersectional view taken longitudinally t ough the mediate turntable and a plurality of carriages delivery end portion of the apparatus showing mounted upon the turntable with a sack holding various positions of certain of the parts after the mechanism supported upon each of the carriages, sack has been sewed;

said carriage being so arranged upon the turn- Figure 7 is a detailed elevational view of the table that a sack supported by one of the thread cutting knife as herein embodied; carriages is in a position to be filled while the Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view of the second carriage is being caused to move with sack holding and throw off lever as herein com- 29 respect to the sewing station to sew the mouth of prised;

. 2 a filled sack. Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical An additional object of the invention is to prosectional view taken through the central portion vide an apparatus of this kind wherein is pmof the platform with parts in elevation and illus-- vided a sewing head together with means for trating in detail the mounting for the platform;

moving a filled sack with respect to the head for Figure 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional closing the sack and means for automatically view taken substantially on the line Iii-l0 of throwing off the filled sack after being sewed. Figure 9;

A still further object of the invention is to Figure 11 is a fragmentary detailed sectional provide a filled sack sewingmechanism wherein view illustrating one of the supporting springs and presenting the same to the stitching mechriages;

anism and wherein power means is provided to Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the effect such travel of the carriage. sack holding means.

The invention also contemplates for an object As disclosed in the accompanying drawings to provide an apparatus of this kind which inand particularly Figures 4 and 9, B denotes a base eludes means for effectively cutting the thread structure which may be constructed in any manafter a filled sack has been sewed. ner preferred and which has bolted, as at l, or

The invention consists in the details of conotherwise firmly mounted thereon a foot plate 2 struction and in the combination and arrangewhich supports a stationary column 3. The

ll} merit of the several parts of my improved sack lower portion of this column is larger in diameter sewing apparatus whereby certain important adthan the upper portion to provide an annular vantages are attained and the device rendered shoulder 4 forming a support for an inner collar simpler, less expensive and otherwise more con- 5 constituting a wear and thrust bearing. Snugvenient and advantageous for use, as will be herely surrounding this collar 5 is an outer collar 6 inafter more fully set forth. and interposed between the collars 5 and 6 are The novel features of my invention will hereinthe anti-friction members 1. after be definitely claimed. The outer collar 6 is snugly received within In order that my invention may be the better the lower portion of a tubular shaft 8. This understood, I will now proceed to describe the shaft 8 is of a length to terminate closely adjasame with reference to the accompanying drawcent to the upper end of the stationary column ings, wherein:- 3. The upper portion of the shaft 8 has welded Figure l is a view in side elevation and of someor otherwise rigidly secured therein an annular what a diagrammatic character illustrating a member 9 which provides a shoulder upon which sack sewing apparatus constructed in accordance rests the outer collar ID of a second combined with an embodiment of my invention; wear and thrust bearing. This collar in subis provided a carriage for carrying a filled sack for the sack floor mounted on each of the cara stantially snugly surrounds an inner collar H which rests upon an annular shoulder l2 carried by and surrounding the column 3 at a point closely adjacent its top. This shoulder I2 is preferably formed by again reducing the diameter of the shaft 3. The top of the shaft 3 has engaged thereon a nut or other holding member 14 coacting with a washer l5. This washer l5 overlies the inner collar II to assure the same being maintained in applied position. Between the collars l0 and H are interposed the anti-friction members l6 herein disclosed as balls and which may, of course, be of a different character if required.

Resting on the upper end of the tubular shaft 8 is an end portion of an expansion spring 11, the opposite end of which bearing against a plate l8 intersecting the upper portion of an elongated sleeve is. This sleeve l9 fits on and telescopes upon the tubular shaft 8 but is free to have movement lengthwise thereof. The purpose of the spring I! is to constantly urge the sleeve l9 upwardly, said sleeve being of a predetermined tension for a purpose to be later explained.

The shafts 3 and 8 are disposed centrally through a transverse channel beam comprised in the structure of a platform P (see Figures 4 and 9). This platform P is positioned closely adjacent to' the lower end of the tubular shaft 8 and is welded, as at 2|, or otherwise rigidly secured thereto so that the platform P is effectively supported for turning or rotating :movement with the shaft 8. The anti-friction mounting of the shaft 8 permits the platform to be initially turned or rotated with a minimum of effort. While in the present embodiment of my invention the platform is intended to be manually turned or swung, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of my invention to provide mechanical means for the same purpose. However, as any particular means for turning or swinging the platform does not constitute a particular part of the present invention an illustration and description of any such mechanical means is believed to be unnecessary.

The transverse channel beam 20 is disposed between and suitably connected to the central portions of the longitudinally disposed side angle beams 22 comprised in the structured the platform, said channel beam 20 constituting the sole support for the beams 22. V

Welded or otherwise secured to the beams 22 at opposite sides but in close proximity to the transverse beam 20 are the upstanding angle irons 23. The upper ends of adjacent posts 23 are connected by the horizontally disposed angle bars 24. Welded or otherwise secured to the posts 23 are the side plates and suitably secured to the bars 24 is a top plate 26. These posts 23 and bars 24 together with the plates 25 and 26 provide a housing to prevent foreign matter, such as dust and the like, interfering with the lower mounting of the shaft 8. Each pair of corner posts 23 at a predetermined distance below their upper ends have interposed therebetween and suitably connected thereto the angle bars 21. The two bars 21 support the parallel angle bars 28. These bars 28 adjacent each end portion are provided with a pairof transversely aligned bearings 29 for a shaft 30 and carrying a pulley 3|.

Passing under the pulleys 3| is a flexible member or cable 32, the end platesv 25 of the housing being provided with suitably positioned openings 33 for the passage of said cable outwardly from said housing. The central portion of the top plate 26 is provided with a suitably positioned opening 34 through which the shafts 3 and 8 and the sleeve [9 freely pass, said opening 34 being also of a sufiicient diameter to permit unobstructed passage therethrough of the vertical stretches of the cable 32. This cable 32 is disposed over and around a pulley 35 rotatably supported by the upper end portion of the sleeve I9 above the partition l3. Each extremity of the cable 32 is suitably anchored, as at 36, to the inner end portion of a carriage 31 (see Fig. 4). The cable 32 is of a length dependent upon the extent of travel desired for each of the carriages 31 in a direction away from the shaft 3.

Each of the carriages 31 is provided with wheels 38 of a conventional type and mounting and which ride upon tracks: 39 extending lengthwise along the beams 22 of the platform P at opposite sides of the central housing. These tracks 38 extend to the outer ends of the beams 22 and each of said tracks is adapted to be alternately brought into proper alignment with the tracks 39' suitably supported upon a stationary platform P or other suitable support. This is shown in Figures 4 and 6.

Each of the carriages 31 carries a yieldably supported floor 40 for coaction with a sack. Depending from the corner portions of the floor 4a) are the bolts 4!. These bolts 4i are fixedly secured to the floor 4!] and are of substantial length. These shanks 4! are freely disposed through the floor 42 of the carriage 37 and mounted upon said shanks 4| below the floor 42 are the nuts 43 for limiting the upward movement of the floor 40 with respect to the floor 42. Interposed between the floor 40 and the floor 42 are the coil springs encircling the shanks 4!. These springs 44 are of a tension to normally hold the floor 42 at the limit of its raised position and to materially resist the weight of a sack and its contents. The rear or inner bolts 4i have disposed therethrough at desired locations the stop pins 45 (see Figure 11) which will stop the downward movement of said rear shanks 4i so that the forward or outer shanks 4| as they continue downwardly under the Weight of the sack and its contents received upon the floor 45 will allow the floor 40 to have a downward tilting position as illustrated in Figure 6 to facilitate the throw off of the filled sack thereon.

The inner or rear end portion of the floor 49 is provided with an upstanding back wall 46 of a height to extend a considerable distance above of the filled sack on the floor 40. This wall 46 materially facilitates the desired throwing off of the sack.

The outer end portion of each of the carriages 31 at substantially its medial plane has pivotally engaged therewith an elongated depending pawl 41. This pawl 41 is normally urged and maintained in a raised position by a retractile member 48 herein disclosed as a coil spring, one end portion of which is suitably anchored, as at 49, to the pawl 4'! and the opposite end portion secured, as at 50, to a desired part of the carriage 31.

Partially underlying the stationary platform P and also extending below the end portion of the platform P adjacent to the platform P is an endless member 5l, herein disclosed as a chain passing around the suitably positioned and supported sprocket wheels 52. The sprocket 52 in the present embodiment of my invention remote from the platform P constitutes the drive sprocket and its shaft 53 is adapted to be coupled with any suit- 75 able source of power, as for instance, a motor M. The endless chain 5| is disposed in a direction lengthwise of the rails 39 and positioned substantially midway thereof so that the outstanding lugs 54 carried at spaced points along the chain 5! may have proper contact with the pawl ll to cause the carriage 31 to travel from its inner position upon the platform P outwardly upon the platform P and for a distance suflicient to carry the upper portion of the sack supported by the carriage through the head H of a sewing machine, indicated in Figure l and shown more in detail in Figure 5. Normally the pawl 4! is in its raised position and above the path of travel of the upstanding lugs 54. However, when it is desired to have a carriage 31 move outwardly to effect the required sewing operation the operator pulls -a lever 55 extending upwardly from a side beam 22 of the platform P. This lever 55 is loosely mounted on an end portion of a shaft 56 disposed transversely cf the platform P and rotatably supported by the side beams 22 thereof. There is one of these shafts 55 carrying a lever at each end portion of the platform P and each lever 55 is adapted to rock the shaft 55 remote therefrom and for which purpose the shaft 56 at a desired point thereon has pivotally engaged therewith, as at 5?, an end of a connecting rod 58. The opposite end of this rod or link 58 is operatively connected, as at 59, with a crank arm 60 provided at an end portion of the shaft 55 remote from the lever 55. This crank arm 60 is at the end portion of the shaft 55 remote from the extremity upon which is mounted the second lever 55. It will,

therefore, be self-evident that the levers 55 are at opposite sides of the platform P but at the time of desired manipulation each of said levers will be at the desired side of the platform for convenient working by the operator.

The normal raised position of each of the pawls 57 under the action of a spring 48 is limited by the'pin A of a crank 6| formed in the middle portion of a shaft 56, and when lever 35 is in an approximately vertical position, the crank 5i will extend upward and rearward.

Normally the carriages 31 are positioned entirely upon the platform P under the action of the spring H which constantly urges the sleeve 95 upwardly with the result that required pull is imposed upon the flexible member or cable 32 to cause the carriages 31 to abut the end walls 25.

The inner end portion of each of the carriages 31 at substantially its transverse center is pro vided with a post 68 having braces 69. .The upper end portion of the post 68 has firmly secured thereto an end portion of a beam ll] which extends outwardly with respect to the adjacent carriage in a direction lengthwise thereof. This beam is is of a length best required.

This beam 15 provides a support for a sack holding mechanism X which is of the detailed character disclosed in the patent granted to me on May 4, 1937, No. 2,079,132, said mechanism being of such character that it will support the mouth of a sack open for filling and then tightly close the open end of the sack and holds it closed in such position that as the filled sack passes through the sewing head the mouth of the sack will be effectively stitched. This sack holder holds the mouth of the bag open and, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a contact 1 l is provided for engagement with a release lever 12 comprised in the sack holding mechanism whereby said mechanism is permitted to return to its normally open adjustment and the filled sack engaged therewith to drop therefrom upon the floor 46. This contact H as herein disclosed is operatively supported in required position from a vertical frame T positioned to one side of the inner or receiving end of the platform P. fhe sewing head H is secured to the upper portion of this frame T and the sewing mechanism comprised in the sewing head H is of a conventional type used in sack sewing and is driven from a shaft 73. As herein disclosed this shaft 73 is in driven connection through the medium of a belt M with a pulley l5 freely mounted on a shaft it rotatably supported by the frame T.

This shaft 16 is in driven connection through the sprocket chain T! with the drive shaft 53 hereinbefore referred to. This shaft 16 can, however, be driven otherwise if preferred.

Coacting with the pulley l5 and as shown in Figure 5 is a sliding clutch disk 18 mounted upon the shaft it for rotation therewith but movable into or out of clutching engagement with the pulley 15. This clutch disk 18 may include, as is well known, a spring for normally maintaining declutching position but, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, the disk '38 is nor mally held in released position through the medium of a retractile spring 19 secured, as at 8%], to the operating lever ill for the clutch disk 18 and to a part 82 depending from the sewing head H. The lever 8| in the present embodiment of my invention is pivotally connected, as at 83, to a part of the frame and at a desired point above the shaft '15, and the intermediate portion of this lever 8! is operatively engaged, as at 84, in a well known manner with the movable clutch member 18.

The lower end portion of the lever 81 has constantly in engagement therewith a roller 85 rotatably carried by the upstanding arm 56 of a bell crank lever. The heel portion of the bell crank lever is pivotally mounted, as at 87, on the frame T with the second or lower arm 88 of the lever disposed in a general direction toward the platform P. The arm 85 has engaged therewith a spring which serves to maintain the roller 35 in desired constant contact with the lower portion of the lever B! but not with sufficient pressure to cause any shifting of the lever. The tension of the spring fill is considerably less than the tension of the spring 19.

While in the accompanying drawings I am showing the use of a spring 59 for normally maintaining the clutch member 15 in declutching position. I wish it to be understood that there can be used any type of clutch having in its own structure a spring of desired strength and by referring to the spring 19 it is to be understood that I have in mind any other means which can be employed with advantage for maintaining this normal position of the clutch disk 18,

The arm 88 is of a length to lap or overlie either from above or below a side marginal portion of the floor t?! of each of the carriages 3i and the outer or free end portion of this arm fll carries a roller 9:? for such direct contact. The normal position of the arm 88 is such to cause the roller 55 to engage the floor l'li of a carriage 3? from below but as a carriage Bl is moved from the tracks Sit outwardly of the platform P upon the tracks a. downwardly and outwardly inclined cam surface or track 9| (shown in Figure 1) carried by the outer end of a carriage 3! at one side thereof will engage the roller ill from below resulting in an upward swinging movement of the arm 58 and a simultaneous outward swinging movement of the arm 86 against the lever 8|. This action will cause the clutch member 18 to engage with the pulley E5 to make the sack sewing apparatus active whereby as the carriage 37 continues to travel outwardly the upper portion of the sack will be caused to travel through the head H and suitably stitched.

Just after the sack passes free of the needle or has been completely stitched, the roller .99 will pass off the cam'fil, the spring 79 will pull the lever 88 in a direction t declutch the member 18 and at the same time swing the arm 88 downwardly. This operation is permitted by recess 92 (see Figure 2) provided in the adjacent marginal portion of the fioor 42 and suitably spaced inwardly of the cam track 9i.

It is to be understood that the distance between the cam track SH and the notch or recess 92 determines during what period of outward travel of the carriage 31 the sewing mechanism of the head H will operate and for which reason it is important that such distance exceed the width of the filled sack.

After the filled sack has been sewed the stop H hereinbefore referred to, just before the working pawl 41 is released, will contact the lever '52 of the sack holding apparatus to allow the sewed sack to drop down upon the fioor it. The weight of the filled sack will tilt the fioor ii) downwardly and rearwardly and in most instances this'action will cause the filled sack to be thrown off of the fioor and which operation is further facilitated by the sudden tilting of the rear or back wall 66. However, should the sack not throw off quickly, then as the carriage starts to return, the filled sack will come into contact with a throw off bar as. This bar 94 is horizontally disposed and has its forward end portion pivotally connected, as at 95, to a suitably positioned support 96 preferably arranged at the side of the platform P remote from the frame T. This bar 94 is constantly swung into a position to intersect the path of travel of the sack carried by the sack holding apparatus and is maintained in such position by the expansible spring 9i interposed between the bar Q4 and the suport 9h, The spring 9?, as illustrated in Figure 8, encircles a bolt 98 pivotally connected, as at 99, to the bar 94 but having free sliding movement through the support 8%, The normal position of the bar 94 under the action of the spring 9? is determined by adjustment of the nut I05 threaded upon the outer end portion of the rod 98 for contact with the outer face of the support 95.

This bar 94 will readily swing inwardly as the carriage with the filled sack passes on the platform P but will spring out to a position to engage the sack and stop the sack should the sack remain on the carriage 3? as said carriage travels back upon the platform P. This contact of the bar 96 will assure the throwing off of the filled sack.

Just after the filled sack passes through the sewing head H it is, of course, important that the sewing thread be severed. As herein disclosed, this is done by a blade it! (Figures 6 and 7) having a cutting edge E62 in the form of an inverted V. The blade It! is carried by an end portion of a vertically swinging arm E83 pivotally connected, as at I54, to the supporting beam it closely adjacent its connection with the post 58. This arm 103 extends in a direction toward the outer or free end of the beam 'lfil so that as it is swung downwardly to sever a thread it will operate in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the thread and thus eliminate undue waste of thread.

This arm I03 as herein disclosed has operatively engaged therewith a rigid link I05 which in turn is operatively engaged with an upstanding lever [06. This lever E96 is pivotally mounted upon the beam 75] and is positioned for contact by a trip member I 97 extending laterally from an elongated bar 98 herein disclosed as extending from the casing of the head H. The stop if hereinbefore referred to depends from the rear end portion of this bar I06.

The carriages 31 at suitable points thereon have depending therefrom the rigid straps Hi9, each having at its lower portion a laterally disposed lug to engage below the side beams 22 of the platform P or the side beams 22 of the platform P. These straps provide means to assure the carriages being maintained against displacement upon the rails 39 or 39.

The general operation of this mechanism is as follows: The operator stands at the right in Figures 1 and 4. An empty sack is placed on the adjacent fioor til with the mouth of the sack being held open by the sack holder mechanism designated generally X, which is fully shown and described in my copending application, Ser. No. 78,952, filed of even date herewith. The sack holder includes two axially rotatable jaws held from axial rotation by bolts, the bolts being released by a trip lever. When the bolts are released, the weight of the filled sack causes the jaws to turn downward, releasing the sack which permits all of the weight of the sack to be supported by the floor 40.

Assuming that a sack supported on the holder X, at the left hand side of the machine, as shown in Figure 1, has been filled, the operator releases latch 63 (see Figure 3) and rotates the platform P or turntable to carry the corresponding carriage with its filled sack into alinement with platform P, as shown in Figure 4. The operator then pulls the adjacent lever 55, which causes a depression of the pawl 41 of the carriage having the filled sack into the path of movement of one of the lugs 55. At this time, the carriage, which is now at the right hand in Figure 2, is bearing against the end wall 25 of housing 23. As the loaded carriage on platform P rolls toward and onto platform P, the spring I7 will be compressed to permit the cable 32 to pay out toward the left in Figure 4.

The upper end of the bag or sack with its mouth still engaged by the jaws of the bag holder X will pass into the sewing head E and as the forward upper corner of the sack enters the sewing head H, the cam 9| of the advancing carriage engages the roller 96, causing the clutch T8 to be thrown in, thus starting the sewing machine. When the bag has been fully sewed, the thread is cut by the knife liil, the member H, Figure 6, will trip the latch 12, which will release the axially rotative jaws of the holder X, releasing the sack and the whole weight of the sack will drop onto the bag supporting fioor 56. This will tilt the floor to the position shown in Figure 6 and usually throw off the sack. As soon as the lug 55 has passed out of engagement with pawl G1, the spring H will draw the emptied carriage back onto the platform P. If the bag should remain on the floor it, the member 94 will dislodge it from its position and throw it off as the carriage moves from platform P to platform P. Thus when the sack on platform P has been sewed and the sack on the right hand side of 15 platform P has been filled, the operator again throws lever adjacent to his station, which lowers the pawl 41 of the carriage at the filling station. He then rotates the turntable tobring the newly filled bag into position opposite the platform P and the empty carriage to the filling station and repeats the operation.

It will be seen with this construction that the filling and the sewing of sacks is almost a continuous operation; that a filled sack does not have to be carried manually from one station to the other, and that each filled sack is properly positioned for sewing and is then discharged automatically.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a sack sewing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit'thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. A filled sack sewing apparatus comprising a sewing means, a carriage movable rectilinearly in a path at one end adjacent to the sewing means, means for urging the carriage in a direction away from the sewing means, a sack supporting means mounted upon the carriage constructed and arranged to hold closed the mouth portion of a filled sack, said carriage as it moves in a direction toward the sewing means carrying the filled sack beyond the sewing means to permit stitching of the closed mouth of the sack, and power means for moving the carriage toward the sewing means and manually operable means for connecting the carriage with the power operated means to shift the carriage into coactive relation to the sewing means, and means acting automatically to release the connection between the power operated means and the carriage upon the completion of the sewing operation to thereby permit the return of the carriage under the action of the urging means.

2.. A filled sack sewing apparatus comprising a sewing means, a carriage movable in a rectilinear path into coactive relation to the sewing means or away therefrom, means for normally urging the carriage to a position away from the sewing means, a sack supporting means mounted upon the carriage constructed and arranged to hold closed the mouth portion of a filled sack, means for moving the carriage into operative engagement with the sewing means and beyond the sewing means to permit stitching of the closed mouth of the sack, said last named means becoming ineffective when the carriage has travelled a distance sufiicient to carry the filled sack beyond the sewing means, said urging means then acting to reverse the direction of movement of the carriageand return it to its initial position.

3. An apparatus of the class described com prising a rectilinearly movable carriage, an endless member separate from but having a flight travelling constantly in the same general direction as the direction of travel of the carriage, enacting means carried by the endless member and the carriage for moving the carriage a predetermined distance in one direction, means for by the endless member to engage the pawl when in one position to cause the carriage to travel in one direction, manually operable means to depress the pawl into the path of movement of the lug, means for supporting a filled sack on a carriage, and means for stitching the mouth of the sack as the carriage is moved by the endless member.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a carriage, an endless member travelling in the same general direction as the direction of travel of the carriage, a movable pawl carried by the carriage, a lug carried by the endless member to engage the pawl when in one position to cause the carriage to travel in one direction, means for supporting a filled sack on a carriage, means for stitching the mouth of the sack as the carriage is moved by the endless member, and means for normally holding the pawl in a second position free of the lug of the endless member.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a carriage, an endless member travelling in the same general direction as the direction of travel of the carriage, a movable pawl carried by the carriage, a lug carried by the endless member to engage the pawl when in one position to cause the carriage to travel in one direction, means for supporting a. filled sack on a carriage, means for stitching the mouth of the sack as the carriage is moved by the endless member, means for normally holding the pawl in a second position free of the lug of the endless member, and means for moving the pawl into its position to be engaged by the lug.

7. A sack sewing mechanism, including a turntable having a floor and having diametrically extending tracks on the fioor on each side of the rotative center of the table, a pair of sack supporting carriages, one on each track, means yieldingly urging both carriages toward the center of the turntable, a fixed platform having tracks with which the tracks of the turntable are adapted to register, manually controllable power operated means operative to shift a carriage on the turntable onto the track of the fixed platform against the actuation of the urging means when the turntable track has been brought into registry with a track on the fixed platform, sack sewing means carried on the fixed platform and engaging the mouth of the sack as the carriage moves onto the fixed platform, means automatically disengaging the carriage from the shifting means when the carriage is passed beyond the sewing means, and means for dislodging the sewed sack from the carriage upon a rearward movement of the carriage under the action of the urging means.

8. A sack sewing machine, including a fixed platform having a track, a turntable having diametrically extending tracks, one on each side of the rotative center of the table, a pair of sack supporting carriages associated one with each of said tracks, means yieldingly urging said carriages toward the center of the turntable, means on each carriage for releasably engaging the mouth of a bag and holding said mouth closed, a power operated carriage moving element disposed in alinement with the tracks of the fixed platform but extending below the path of movement of the turntable, the turntable when rotated carrying one of said carriages into position over said elemechanism on the fixed platform disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the carriage on the fixed platform and operating on the sack as the sack moves on the fixed platform, and means for automatically disconnecting the engagement between the carriage and the carriage moving element to permit the carriage to be returned to its initial position under the action of said urging means when the sewing has been completed.

9. A sack sewing machine, including a fixed platform having a track, a turntable having diametrically extending tracks, one on each side of the rotative center of the table, a pair of sack supporting carriages engaging said tracks, means yieldingly urging said carriages toward the center of the turntable, means on each carriage for releasably engaging the mouth of a bag and holding said mouth closed, a carriage moving element disposed in alinement with the tracks of the fixed platform but extending below the path of movement of the turntable, the turntable when rotated to one position carrying one of said carriages into position over said element, manually controllable means operable to engage a carriage immediately above the element with the element to thus move the carriage onto the fixed platform for sewing, sewing mechanism on the fixed platform disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the carriage on the fixed platform and operating on the sack as the sack moves on the fixed platform, means for automatically disconnecting the engagement between the carriage and the carriage moving element to permit the carriage to be returned to its initial position under the action of said urging means when the sewing has been completed, means for driving the sewing mechanism, and means for automatically connecting the sewing mechanism with said driving means as the sack enters the sewing mechanism and continuing said driving connection until the sack leaves the sewing mechanism andthen automatically releasing said driving connection.

10. In the mechanism of the character described, a carriage having a floor adapted to support a filled sack, forward and rear springs on the carriage and upon which the floor is mounted, means for positively limiting the downward movement of the forward end of the floor, the rear end of the floor having full downward movement against the action of its springs, the floor having an upwardly extending wall at its forward end whereby when the weight of the sack comes upon the floor, the fioor will tilt to discharge the sack.

11. In a sack sewing machine, a sewing head, a sack supporting carriage movable from a point remote from the sewing head past the sewing head to carry a sack thereon into operative relation to the head, pow-er operated means 7 directly engaging the carriage to shift the carriage toward and past the sewing head, means acting automatically to reverse the movement of the carriage after it has passed the sewing head, and means forcing the sack off the carriage upon such reverse movement, said means being disposed in the path of movement of the sack on the carriage and being yieldable in one direction to permit the sack to be carried toward and past the sewing head.

12. A sack sewing mechanism, including a turntable having a floor, a pair of sack supporting carriages mounted upon the floor of the turntable for radial movement, a sewing head disposed beyond the turntable, the turntable being shiftable to position the carriages alternately in proximity to the sewing head, manually controllable motor operated means for shifting each carriage off the turntable into coactive relation to the sewing head to permit the bag on the carriage to be sewed, and automatically acting means for returning the carriage to its position on the turntable when the bag has been completely sewed.

13. Bag sewing mechanism, including a turntable having diametrically extending tracks on each side of the rotative center of the turntable, a pair of carriages mounted upon said tracks, a cable connecting said carriages, means at the center of the turntable engaging the middle of the cable and urging the middle of the cable upward whereby to yieldingly urge both carriages toward the middle of the turntable, a sewing head disposed beyond the turntable, the turntable being rotatable to carry the carriages alternately into proximity to the sewing head, manually controllable motor operated means adapted to operatively engage the carriage when the turntable is turned to bring a carriage into proximity to the sewing head and shift the carriage past the sewing head whereby a sack on the carriage may be sewed, said means automatically releasing the carriage after it has carried the sack through and beyond the sewing means to permit said cable to return the carriage to its initial position.

14. A sack sewing mechanism, including a turntable, a central vertically supported sleeve mounted on the turntable, a central vertical column extending into said sleeve, bearings for the turntable on the column, a pulley carried by the sleeve, a compression spring disposed between the upper end of the column and the upper end of the sleeve and thereby urging the sleeve and pulley upward, diametrically disposed tracks carried by the turntable, a pair of bag supporting carriages on said tracks, pulleys disposed adjacent the lower end of the sleeve and mounted on the turntable, a cable connecting said carriages, the cable passing beneath said pulleys and up over the pulley on the upper end of the sleeve, a sewing head disposed outward of the turntable, the turntable being rotatable to carry either of said carriages into position approximately opposite the sewing head, manually controllable means for shifting the adjacent carriage on the turntable outward past the sewing head to carry the bag thereon into operative engagement with the sewing head, the outward movement of the carriage being resisted by the compression spring, and means for automatically releasing the carriage from said shifting means when the bag has been completely sewed to thereby permit the spring and cable to return the carriage onto the turntable.

15. A filled sack sewing apparatus, including a rotatable platform, a sewing head supported adjacent to but exteriorly of the platform, carriages normally positioned on the platform but movable radially thereon, radial tracks on the platform providing a fixed path of travel for each of the carriages, means for holding the upper end of a filled sack and mounted upon each carriage, said sack holding means being constructed and arranged to hold the mouth portion of a filled sack closed and to maintain said mouth portion of the sack in a position to be stitched by the sewing head, and manually controllable means for moving each of the carriages ofi of the platform and past the sewing head when the platform has been moved to bring the carriage into proper position with respect to the sewing head.

16. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable platform, a sewing means positioned adjacent to but exteriorly of said platform, a plurality of carriages normally positioned on the platform but radially movable thereon, said platform being rotatable to selectively bring a carriage into working position with respect to the sewing means, means on each carriage for supporting a filled sack with its mouth closed, means for moving the selected carriage off of the platform and into operative engagement with the sewing means, including an endless element having a flight constantly movable in one direction, the flight having means for operatively engaging a carriage when the turntable has been turned to bring a selected carriage into a position adjacent the sewing means, said endless element acting to move the carriage beyond the sewing means to allow the sewing means to sew the closed mouth of the sack, said endless element then releasing the carriage, and means acting automatically to return the carriage onto the turntable when so released.

17. In a machine of the character described, a carriage having a floor adapted to support a filled sack, means above the floor and mounted on the carriage for engaging the upper end of a sack and supporting the sack in erect position above the floor, forward and rear springs of equal strength upon which the floor is mounted, and means for positively limiting the downward movement of the floor at its forward end, the floor having full downward movement at its rear end whereby when the sack is released from the supporting means and drops upon the floor, the weight of the filled sack will cause the floor to tilt rearward to discharge the sack.

18. A sack sewing machine, including a turntable having a plurality of radial tracks, a fixed platform exterior to the turntable and having a track radial to the center of the turntable and having a bag sewing mechanism disposed above the track, the turntable being rotatable to bring any track into register with the track of the fixed platform, a carriage on each track and movable from the turntable onto the track of the platform when the corresponding track on the turntable is in register with the track on the platform, a power operated endless'element having a flight disposed below and parallel to the tracks on the platform and extending inward in a direction radial to the center of the turntable, said flight of the endless element being driven in a direction toward the fixed platform, a member on each carriage shiftable into engagement with the endless element to thus cause the endless element to engage the carriage and shiftit from the turntable onto the fixed platform and means on the turntable beneath each track thereof engageable with the member on the corresponding carriage to shift it into position to be engaged by the endless element.

VEREAU L. STATHEM. 

